I'm always looking for different things to do and the Mid-Career Smear collection was different. We…read moreparked at a local parking garage on California and 19th St ( $20 for max hours) within walking distance to the historic Colorado Building. Also available is metered street parking. We had a reservation for the collection at 1:45 so we ate at the Tuscany Coffee & Deli (on the 16th St mall) for lunch and while we waited for our appointment. Initially we were confused about the collection hours and we left a VM and emailed but no response to see if we could go to the collection before our scheduled appointment (which we did anyway). A employee explained the appointment was to tell how many people would attend at a certain time. We arrived to find the building doors were locked but luckily a gentleman who works there let us in and also let us into the elevator to the 5th floor where we were greeted by an employee who explained about the visit. We were free to roam the entire 5th floor of each office at our leisure (only saw one other couple) that held exhibits from contemporary artists from around the world. There were information in the rooms providing brief descriptions of each exhibit. Some of the items were interactive. The collection is free and open to the public (Wednesday through Friday with hours from 11am to 5pm). For more information, please visit their site on Facebook or at their website.

I fortunately had the opportunity to visit this museum before the pandemic hit and was very glad…read morethat i did. The collection of art and items here is definitely very eclectic, but is also very thought provoking at the same time. This collection is definitely much nicer than most free collections that I've seen in other cities, and I would have no problem paying a small fee to visit it again. As the rooms were not busy during my visit, I had the opportunity to slowly enjoy the art - this was good as some areas have quite a bit of items to see in a small area. Overall, definitely worth a visit if you're in Denver and enjoy art -- especially unusual and creative art.

I am still collecting Macy Dorf's beautiful art! We have the small and midsized plates, bowls,…read moreFrench onion bowls, platters, serving bowls, butter plate and more. We love to mix and match them. They are gorgeous and conversation starters. Everyone that eats in our home comments on how beautiful they are. Plus, you can meet and chat with Macy himself! Great guy - friendly, talented and personable. Looking forward to discovering new pieces for our home!!

Denver, this little gem of a gallery was one of the first to settle in the now hip Santa Fe Arts…read moreDistrict. Sixteen established Denver artists, a wide range of mediums and no shortage of talent. First Fridays is a perfect time to hit the district and walk through this space. The coolest part - the on site artists studios. Get your cool on and check it out!

I really like how forward thinking and smart this gallery is. They are involved in conversations in…read morethe art community that are shaping the future of art. I heard a segment on public radio that really inspired me. I think they are bold, brave and paving the way to the future of art. If you want to see high quality art from a diverse body of artists working in a wide variety of mediums, this is the place for you! Their open mindedness to the possibilities in art will keep me coming back for sure!

I am a regular visitor of the art district on Santa Fe and enjoy going to the art walks on 1t…read moreFridays. Niza Knoll's gallery sticks out as one of the best ones with its consistent high quality. The place looks often entirely different ever 4 weeks. The one constant is the friendly and knowledgeable owner. The themes can be very original. I remember a circus exhibition in 2011 that was really impressive. I feel this place is enhancing the Denver art scene and I am looking forward to many more exhibitions showing items or styles that I haven't seen before but which I will remember for a long time :)

This is nothing fancy, a typical gallery, but it has rotating exhibits and has a section where they…read moreoften display the art of the students at the nearby college/art program. They had three different types of exhibits when I visited, all modern/contemporary. It's free to enter, but I gave a donation. The staff was really kind and professional. This gallery is in the heart of the Santa Fe art district (reviewed separately). They offer a map that shows you all the nearby galleries, frame shops, vintage shops, etc. You could make a day of it.

I love going to the lectures and workshops that support the exhibitions in the main gallery. CVA is…read morealways focused on showing a new perspective and providing an amazing resource for MSU Denver students and the community. CVA is worth checking out on First Friday.

Very impressed! We visited this gallery on a First Friday, and the group was mesmerized by the far…read moreout surreal art on display by an artist GILLES! Really trippy Man Ray meets Dali meets Disney/Pixar. Loved it! The art gave our group tons of discussion fodder. The quality of the art was some of the best I have found in Denver, and the proprietor was incredibly knowledgeable and took time to educate us and show us additional work that was not on display. I will be making a point to return to this studio for every show. What a gem!

I love this small, contemporary gallery. Robin Rule has an interesting point of view, and really…read moreknows her stuff. The gallery has the clean, modern interior required to display contemporary pieces so they capture all the viewer's attention. But it's a friendly place, not cold or uninviting -- you'll be greeted by one or more friendly dogs when you walk in the door.

The small exhibition space is located right next to the convention center/theater district, RTD,…read morelight rail station, and is free and open to the public. It is considered an art incubator space and has rotating exhibitions that I believe change every month. The space is 700 ft.² so you'll be able to get through the exhibition pretty quickly. This location does a wonderful job of maintaining the vibrancy of Denvers art community by having a welcoming space access to the public to visit, as well as having opening receptions when new exhibitions arrive. All of the people involved with understudy are incredibly friendly and involved in the arts and culture community. The next time you're walking around in the downtown area it's worth stopping by and taking a look

This small space, tucked under the Convention Center main floor and far enough off 14th that it…read moredoesn't have street visibility, probably struggled attracting a paying tenant. So instead, it became a free public gallery that is a gem, with installations rotating periodically. It has cool stuff, great staff, and always a welcoming vibe.

They have very good customer service. I didn't get what I wanted but I didn't lose any moneyread more

I undertook the long drive up to Colfax to go to the opening reception (featuring a friend of a…read morefriend of mine). It was hosted at the Abend Gallery. This show runs from March 2nd through April 7th, 2012. The tagline is "1 Gallery, 2 Shows, 3 Points of View (Ann Gargotto, Jean Shom, Cheryl St. John) + Cake and Pretty Horses (Michael Dowling -- Solo Exhibition)". The Gallery is quite large and is a very nice, eclectic space. I heard that there used to be a grocery store on this location. Currently, the Gallery is set up in such a way that the main rooms are subdivided to allow focus on individual pieces and groups as your circulate through the gallery. The last room was set up as a larger, more open area. This room was devoted to "Cake and Pretty Horses". I saw some thought provoking, and emotion inducing, paintings. Some reminded me of O'Keeffe's, some were very evocative landscapes, others would not have looked out of place at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, MT. The pieces that I came to see were the ones by Michael Dowling. Yes, there were a ton of horse paintings. I think my sister, when she was was 11, would have been enthralled. The play of light and shadow in his work was very cool. I particular enjoyed the "Round Cakes 1" (sp) painting, which was done on the bottom of an old, round table. It almost seemed to be pulling all the ambient light into a black hole (if you will) with a small, understated, yet illuminated, cake demanding your focus and attention. Michael seems to have a wry sense of humor, when you talk to him. As part of the reception, Abend gallery was pouring red and white wines, they were offering soft drinks, and they had a yummy selection, of cheese, crackers, dips, veggies, fruit, and sweets.

Leon began life in August 2011 as a commercial gallery, but has morphed into a nonprofit arts…read moreorganization as of July 2018. It continues to present regular art exhibitions, but also offers all sorts of intimate musical events, fashion, lectures, poetry, book launches, and use as a charming event space. The building dates to the 1890s and has served many functions including a flower shop, a yoga studio, the first location of Denver Free University, and a photography studio. It's conveniently located in the heart of the Uptown neighborhood. Parking can be a little tricky, but there is usually a spot to find within a block or two and if you've got parking karma--right in front. I'd call the art that Leon presents eclectic. Some of it I like, some I hate, but it's always thought-provoking and occasionally inspiring. Leon tries to find emerging and underrepresented artists, but also provides a space for established artists to experiment in a way that's difficult at more commercial galleries. Leon's motto is, "Outliers Change the World," and long-time director, Eric Nord, strives to do that. Leon is an interesting part of the Denver arts scene and is worth many visits.

Only ten blocks from the zoo and right by restaurant row, Leon gallery sits in a great location…read morealong Park Ave in Uptown. The location makes it an excellent stop after dinner and a day around town or before a night out at the local pubs. Walking in, you'll find a cozy gallery perfectly suited for smaller exhibitions. It's small size affords good, friendly communication between the patrons and allows for conversation with the artists. The brick walls are an idyllic backdrop for the different works of art rotating through. While it's slated as a venue for emerging artists, some are already well on their way. This venue has a great location, brings in quality local works of art, and will make for a fun evening out.